The Press., 1887-09-22
LOCAL TOPICs-pENN,D AND sCIssORED
STAFFORD TOPICS.

Il STAFFORD TOPICS.
 4 -J. A. Medbery, who left Stafford on Saturday last, and with his wife is now en route for his new home ill Arkansas City, Kansas, came to Stafford Springs in 1859, and therefore. Ras one of the oldest mer- chants in the borough. MT. Medbery is a native of Woodstock, and finished his edu- cation at Greenwich Academy, in Rhode Island. He spent several years before coming to this village in dry goods store in Providence. The first four years of his life in Stafford was spent in the store of L. W. Crane, then kept in the building be- longing to the Granite Mill Co.,, which was destroyed by the food of 1877. In 1863 MT. Medbery opened a dry goods store in the building belonging to Messrs Ives and Crane, afterwards to Heald and Baker, and which also was washed away in 1877. This was the first store in Tol- land County exclusively devoted to the sale of dry goods. A year or two after starting in this business MT. Medbery took into partnership B. K. Taft ,and the firm of Medbery < Taft existed until Mr. T. retired to engage in the drug business, which he still continues. About 1871 MT. Medbery sold his business to Ormsby Bros, and in November of the same year opened the Oriental tea store in Bakers Block, which he has since continued, excepting for the few months in 1885 between the burning and rebuilding of his store. In 1863 MT. Medbery married Miss Ellen k. Phelps of Springfield, who had came here as teacher in the public schools. Mrs. Medbery is an accomplished pianist and vocalist, and scores of the growing misses of the borough have availed of her services as in structor. She is of family of considera- ble note as musicians, being sister of B. c. Phelps of Brooklyn, N. r., and of E. B. Phelps of Springfield, Mass, both noted composers and instructors. In her case, as ill that of MT. M, the loss to the com munlty will be great one in social point of view
 An important part of MT. Medbery's | business here, carried on ill connection both with his dry goods business and tea store, has been the agency for sewing ma chimes. He has sold in this vicinity be- tween 2, 800 and 5000 machines. He was agent for the Weed machine from the be- ginning of its manufacture in Hartford so long as 1t continued to be made. Later he became agent for the White machine, also selling one or two others.
 Mr. M. goes to Arkansas City with no fixed purpose, but will probably take some position in the extensive business estab- lished there by his son-in-law, MT. Camp bell, who bought up several struggling daily newspapers, consolidated them into one, making sheet that would be credit able to any city, and of appearance in typography, editorial conduct and busi- ness management that shows the manag- ing spirit to be adapted for the chosen work, equipping the printing house con- nected in the most thorough manner, and I with the best modern appliances for the printing business in all its details, for news and job work.
 We speak for hundreds of people when we wish success, long life and fullest hap piness to our late fellow towns people, MT. and Mrs. Medbery and Mrs. Campbell. The Boston Globe tells a story of pool selling at the Stafford races, which is going the rounds of the paper. The Globe is at fault, at least so far as regards the locality of it's story. The Stafford society from the start eliminated pool selling, gambling and rum selling from its races so far as the utmost vigilance could do so, and if any patron wishes to be humbugged, swindled or made drunk he must seek opportunity i'll some dark corner, and ninety nine to one have a vain search at that Black legs and rum sellers find the risk of prosecuting their business too great, notwithstanding the immense crowds in attendance. And officers Of other societies who prOphesled failure in trying to sustain trials of horse speed disconnected with gambling are now loudly advertising their own fairs as con- ducted on that plan, and in an ''I always did that way" sort of style.
 Springfield Republican, Sept 16: The Methodist church at Warehouse Point was the scene of pleasant event yesterday in the marriage of Austin l.. Cutler to Miss Ida D. Hodge. The ceremony was per formed by the pastor, Rev. William Kirkby. The church was we'll filled with friends and relatives and tastefully trimmed with gol- den-rod and many other flowers. The ushers were Charles J. Dewey and Joseph H. Doane of Warehouse Point and F. H. Greener of Norwich The organist was Hubert Bailey, while Miss Josie Fletcher took. charge of the music. The scholars lately taught by the bride, about 75 in number, attended in body and filled the wing seats of the church completely. Her Sunday school class were also present. The couple departed at once for the o'clock train north and will spend few days in Springfield and eastern Connecticut. Miss Hodge has taught for IT years in the town with remarkable success. She was also prominent in church work.